 
A
young man kills his family in their new
house down in Long Island New York as
something told him to do so. Years later
a newlywed couple named George (James
Brolin) and Kathy Lutz (Margot Kidder)
with their 3 children move into the house
as they hope it will be their dream house
but it ends up as a terrifying nightmare.
A
preacher named Father Delaney (Rod
Steiger) enters the house to bless it
while the family tries out their new
motorboat. A bunch of flies invade him
and he feels ill. Then the door opens and
something tells him to get out. He tries
to call the family up but the line goes
staticy. He feels ill later on and gets a
bunch of rashes on him.
The
daughter named Amy (Natasha Ryan) tells
her mom that she has an imaginary friend
named Jodie as Jodie tells Amy all kinds
of dark secrets of what went on in the
house with the family that moved in
before them.
Kathy's
husband and the kids' stepfather George
is slowly becoming posssessed by the
house and is starting to look like the
man who killed his family that moved into
the house before them and becomes
obnoxious.
The
house of their dreams becomes a
terrifying disaster when they discover
more terrifying secrets about their house
and experience all sorts of terrifying
moments there.
A film based on a
true story. Very well done although
critics say otherwise as probably because
alot of people didn't believe that this
really happened. There are many effective
scene's throughout this story with good
moments on the possessions and the
hauntings too. It seems heartwarming at
first when the family moves in and then
slowly turns into a nightmare with a
possessed man in the house keeping you on
your feet to watch every move he makes.
There's a nice prologue on the possessed
kid shooting his family making this movie
very impressive too.
The book by Jay Anson is more
detailed and scarier too.
I give this film two thumbs up and it
goes to show that there is horror in real
life than in just fictionalised films.
The acting is very
good. Margot Kidder proves that
she can do other character than just Lois
Lane in the Superman films
as that's what most viewers note her
doing but she also has a string of many
other acting credits. She really brought
good emotions to her part as the family
woman and a great charming attitude too.
James Brolin is also good and
believable in his role as the obnoxious
George Lutz showing great intensive
aggressions while slowly being possessed
as well as showing some evil expressions
too making him look intimidating.
Plus I remember seeing one of the young
actors named K.C. Martel play
the same character name in E.T.
the Extra Terrestrial as he too
does a good job in both films.
I really enjoyed Helen Shaver's
supporting role as Carolyn who is good at
playing someone whom was briefly posessed
while being a the house possessed.
Rod Steiger played a great priest
disturbed by the house and knew how to
react in pain when something bad happens
to him as well as showing terrific energy
to what he does with his part.
The directing is
superbly done by Stuart Rosenberg
and deserves more credit than he gets for
this one.
The scenes where it shows the family
being shot is a classic
He shows excellent effective scenes like
when he directed Steiger's scene
when he is about too bless the house but
is attacked by house flies and then the
door opens for him with an evil voice
shouting GET OUT and another scene with
him in the cathedral when he becomes
blind and all the supernatural events are
happening around him.
Margot Kidder and James
Brolin acted well off of one another
looking like a real life husband and
wife.
Brolin was very believeable when
he slowly gets posessed inside the house
and shows great aggresssion making him
truly intimidating.
There's perfect work on Helen Shaver
when her character nearly gets posessed
herself and goes into the house and her
reactions are marvellous after she
discovers a secret red room in the house.
Rosenberg has directed many TV shows
and other film since the mid 50's till
1991.
The music was composed by Lalo
Schifrin and knows his stuff to make
it creepy sounding with the sharp
screeching violin playing along with the
chanting sounds especially during the
beginning of this film and other neat
music too as well as having countless
other TV and film to his credit as a
composer.
Sgt.
Gionfriddo: Maybe I am just chasing
shadows.
Kathy
Lutz: She was shot in the head.
George:
[talking to the presence in the house]
What do you want with us? Goddamnit, this
is *MY* house!
[the
wedding/food caterer confronts George
with the bill in the men's room]
Caterer: The deal was cash. You
know? Cash.
George: [washing his face]
The cash is lost. You're going to have to
take a check.
Caterer: I don't like checks.
Checks get cancelled. Checks bounce.
Checks is not cash. Cash is cash.
George:
You listen to me, pal. I don't like
lectures and I don't like being hassled
in the men's room. I'm going to write you
a check. Either that's good enough for
you or you're going to eat your own
goddamn food.
Carolyn:
[possessed] Find the well... it's
the passage... to hell! SHUT IT!
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